In Southern Africa, the route we have followed to achieve this has involved matching our machines more closely to changing markets, reducing costs, improving efficiencies and streamlining our product offering to focus on specialised cellulose (also known as dissolving wood pulp or DWP), virgin packaging paper, tissue, office paper, newsprint and energy generation. Today, approximately 8% of Sappi Southern Africa’s sales volumes are generated by graphic paper and newsprint.

Ultraflute, our lightweight semi-chemical fluting virgin containerboard continues to enjoy strong support and has now become the benchmark for quality fluting in Africa. Also enjoying strong support is Ultratest, a kraft topliner which can be used in both heavy industrial and light agricultural applications.

The forest sector (forestry and forest products) in South Africa employs approximately 165,900 workers and provides about 62,700 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs. Forestry provides livelihood support to 652,000 people of the country’s rural population. The pulp and paper industry provides about 13,200 direct and 11,000 indirect employment opportunities.
The forest sector contributes about 1% to national GDP.